flashmedic
3rd of August 2009 (Mon), 23:12
I'll start at the beginning: my primary focus (no pun intended) is weddings, eventually I'll add a studio and do some portraiture. I occasionally do some commercial work with a friend of mine. I currently own 3 different flash systems, and I feel like I need to consolidate and stick with one.
I have set of on camera speedlights for my canons - a 550 and a 430. I won't get rid of these, they are too handy and have too many uses. I have a set of radio poppers if I decide to get creative with them.
I also have a set of Q-flashes - 2 X2D's with a Qpak battery and a TTL adapter. I love the convenience of the TTL, and I have a speedring to allow a softbox on one of them.
My third set is 2 300ws monolights and a few modifiers (umbrellas, SB's, an octobox, and a beauty dish). What I like best about this set is the availability of modifiers for it. Most of this has come from Ebay, and I've been reasonably happy with the quality (especially compared to price).
What I'm thinking is to upgrade the Qflash system and make that my weapon of choice. There isn't much in the wedding/portrait world I'll ever want to do that it won't handle. I'm thinking that adding a Norman or Lumedyne power pack will give me some more flexibility (like not running out of juice in the battery) and if I want, add heads that are more affordable than the Q's (via ebay).
My biggest question - I've worked with people that are most comfortable with monolights; I have no idea what I need to be looking at to buy a power pack. I'm not even sure the right questions to ask to determine what I need or want in this type of equipment.
Any help would be appreciated!
I have set of on camera speedlights for my canons - a 550 and a 430. I won't get rid of these, they are too handy and have too many uses. I have a set of radio poppers if I decide to get creative with them.
I also have a set of Q-flashes - 2 X2D's with a Qpak battery and a TTL adapter. I love the convenience of the TTL, and I have a speedring to allow a softbox on one of them.
My third set is 2 300ws monolights and a few modifiers (umbrellas, SB's, an octobox, and a beauty dish). What I like best about this set is the availability of modifiers for it. Most of this has come from Ebay, and I've been reasonably happy with the quality (especially compared to price).
What I'm thinking is to upgrade the Qflash system and make that my weapon of choice. There isn't much in the wedding/portrait world I'll ever want to do that it won't handle. I'm thinking that adding a Norman or Lumedyne power pack will give me some more flexibility (like not running out of juice in the battery) and if I want, add heads that are more affordable than the Q's (via ebay).
My biggest question - I've worked with people that are most comfortable with monolights; I have no idea what I need to be looking at to buy a power pack. I'm not even sure the right questions to ask to determine what I need or want in this type of equipment.
Any help would be appreciated!